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Come even if you have broken your vows a thousand times; Come, come yet again!

Al-Quran:Hence, [O Muhammad,] proclaim thou unto all people the [duty of] pilgrimage: they will come unto thee on foot and on every [kind of] fast mount, coming from every far-away point [on earth]. 22:27

The mass movement has begun! Yes, the spiritual centre of the Muslims has started drawing them from all around the globe for one unified purpose of Hajj, just as it has been happening from times immemorial; ever since Hazrat Ibrahim (alaihis salam), with the help of his son, Hazrat Ismail (alaihis salam), built the Kaaba as commanded by Allah ta’ala.

Al-Quran: And remember Abrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing. 2:127

Even before the coming of Islam, Kaaba has been the focal point of religion for the people believing in Hazrat Ibrahim (alaihis salam). The Quraish of Makkah took great pride in being the keepers of the House of God, even though they had long forgotten the monotheism (belief in One Allah) preached by Hazrat Ibrahim (alaihis salam). The month of Zilhajj was a time of great ceremony and gathering of Arabs tribes from far and wide. Although the Hajj is associated with the life of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) from the 7th century but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered by Muslims to stretch back thousands of years to the time of Sayyidna Ibrahim (alaihis salam).

Al-Quran:Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for mankind. 3:96

From a few thousand people traveling by camel in the 7th century to three million a year today, the story of Hajj is an epic journey. Yet despite the changes over the years the experience itself doesn’t seem to have changed. The historical accounts of pilgrims in medieval times, their rituals, their feelings and the deep spiritual significance are the same as now.

Al-Quran:Behold! We gave the site, to Abrahim, of the (Sacred) House, (saying): “Associate not anything (in worship) with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or stand up, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). 22:26

Going through the difficulties of travel and crowd, the physical effort exerted while doing the different rituals of Hajj, the movement from one place to another and the sacrifice of money and time all make Hajj a form of Jihad. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) recommended it for women and for weak men who are unable to participate in Jihad in the battlefield.

Hadith: A’ishah(may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam), “As jihad is the best deed, shouldn’t we [women] make jihad?”

The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) replied, “The best jihad for you [women] is a Hajj mabroor.”

A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) later said, “I have been keen to regularly perform Hajj since I heard that from the Messenger of Allah” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Allah ta’ala says in the glorious Quran that getting protected from hell fire and being admitted to the Jannah is the real success. That is exactly the reward of Hajj that is performed with sincere intent of pleasing Allah ta’ala while following the rulings of shariah regarding it. It is the ultimate success.

Hadith: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleaseed with him) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said, “The reward for a Hajj mabroor is nothing but Paradise” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Hajj mabroor is the Hajj that is done with a sincere intent, following the proper rulings of shariah, as it is as much a spiritual form of worship as a bodily and monetary worship. Therefore, it is the duty of every pilgrim intending to go for Hajj to make sincere intent, as well as, learn the correct jurisprudence regarding Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.

Al-Quran: Hence, pilgrimage unto the Temple is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. 3:97

Hadith: A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is no day on which Allah frees servants of His from Fire more than [those freed on] the Day of `Arafat. And, verily, He draws near and then proudly speaks about them [i.e. the pilgrims] before the angels, saying, ‘What do these seek?'”(Muslim)

Pilgrims are the guests of Allah, the Lord of the Universe. How can we even begin to fathom His hospitality for the special guests, subhan Allah!

Hadith: Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said, “The one striving in the cause of Allah and the one performing Hajj and the one performing `Umrah are all the delegation of Allah. He calls them and they respond to His call, and they ask Him and He answers their supplication.” (Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani)

Allahu Akber!

The days of Hajj are very special. Their blessings are not restricted to those performing Hajj only. It is a season of goodness for everyone. So sacred are the first ten days of Zul Hijjah that Allah ta’ala swears an oath by them.

Al-Quran: “By the dawn; by the ten nights” [89:1-2].

Swearing an oath by something indicates its importance and great benefit. The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most beloved to Allah ta’ala.

Hadith: Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”

The people asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?”

He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing.” (Al-Bukhari)

But we are not invited!!

Obviously, Hajj is one of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days. However, for those of us who were not invited to His House this year, there are still many good deeds that one can do and earn the pleasure of Allah ta’ala. He is All Merciful and All Mighty, and can choose whomsoever He wills for His divine pleasure, wherever and however.

Hadith: The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “Whoever prays Fajr Prayer in congregation, and then sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then (after a while) prays two rak’as, he will gain a reward equal to that of making perfect Hajj and Umrah.” [He repeated the word “perfect” thrice.] (At-Tirmidhi)

We can always hope for His mercy and love, in sha Allah. Some of these are:

1) Recite the masnoon dua when sighting the moon of ZulHajjah.

2) After sighting the moon of ZulHajjah, do not cut or trim your hair and nails until you have offered the sacrifice.

Hadith: “When any one of you intending to sacrifice the animal enters in the month (of Dhu’l-Hijja) he should not get his hair or nails touched (cut)” (Muslim 22: 4870)

3) Recite the Takbiraat as much as possible from the 1st ZulHajjah to the 13th of ZulHajjah.

Hadith: Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. (Bukhaari)

Takbeer at this time is a Sunnah. So recite it in the masjid, in your home, on the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.

Hadith: The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) used to fast on the ninth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah and he said: “Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah (ninth Dhul-hijjah) is an expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and an expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” (Muslim)

5) In the last third of every night, Allah Almighty calls out to us, His servants.

Hadith: Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? (Bukhaari, Muslim).

Let us seize this golden opportunity of His Divine Mercy, ask Him to forgive and guide us and grant us ease in our daily affairs. He always listens to His slaves and even more so in these days beloved to Him.

6) One of the most important action during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin right away, regretting what was done in the past, giving it up immediately and be determined never, ever to return to it.

Al-Quran:But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful. 28:67

7) Recite the Quran, read with meaning, reflect on it, understand it, and then implement it in your daily life. Remember that reading one letter of the Qur’aan earns you ten rewards. In this way, reading Surat Al-Fatihah, which doesn’t take more than two minutes, will give you more than one thousand rewards! This is on ordinary days, so what about these magnificent days! Certainly the reward will be far greater, Insha Allah.

8) Apart from all the above, we should send Salaams on the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam), make dua, give charity, honor our parents, uphold ties of kinship, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and add other good deeds and acts of worship during these days because Hajj is a training ground for best etiquettes as befitting a true Muslim, whatever the circumstances may be..

Al-Quran: The pilgrimage shall take place in the months appointed for it. And whoever undertakes the pilgrimage in those [months] shall, while on pilgrimage, abstain from lewd speech, from all wicked conduct, and from quarrelling; and whatever good you may do, God is aware of it. And make provision for yourselves – but, verily, the best of all provisions is God-consciousness: remain, then, conscious of Me, O you who are endowed with insight! – 2:197

9) Ibrahim’s (alaihis salam) obedience, loyalty and sacrifice greatly earned the pleasure of Allah ta’ala and he was declared as a Muhsin and Khalil Allah (Friend of Allah). His name and his sacrifice is remembered till this day. Five times a day, Muslims send their blessings on Ibrahim (alaihis salam) along with Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam).

Allah Tala expects the same obedience and sacrifice from us. In front of the command of Allah, there should be no excuses. In remembrance of this sacrifice of Ibrahim (alaihis salam), Muslims all over the world perform it. This sacrifice offered every year is actually the expression of a slave’s love for his Creator. The word Qurbani is derived from the word “Qurb” meaning nearness and hence helps us attain the love and nearness of Allah ta’ala.

Al-Quran:“Say (O Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for the sake of Allah”. 6:162:

While sacrificing, if this state and these feelings of love and total obedience to Allah ta’ala are not there, then merely shedding the blood of animals and distributing meat are all activities without any spirit. Allah ta’ala does not need blood or meat from animals. All that He requires from His slaves is the God consciousness,, obedience and the feelings of self sacrifice for their Lord.

Al Quran:“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allâh, but it is piety from you that reaches Him”. 22:37

Thus the real spirit of sacrifice is that a man should leave all those things in this world which stop him from attaining nearness to Allah ta’ala.

Hadith: Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam ) lived in Madeenah for 10 years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” (Ahmad-Saheeh by al-Albaani)

Al-Quran: So that they might experience much that shall be of benefit to them, and that they might extol the name of God on the days appointed [for sacrifice], over whatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them [to this end]: eat, then, thereof, and feed the unfortunate poor. 22:28

10) Do not eat anything on Eid ul Adha until after the Eid Prayer and the sacrifice; as this was the sunnah of Rasool Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam).

While on the way for Eid prayer, recite the Takbiraat loudly; but remember that Eid prayer is a form of worship and we should avoid unislamic behavior (especially) in dress and in etiquette during these times.

Alhamdulillah, there is much to be gained in these coming days. Hasten to do good deeds and striving hard in worship.

Al-Quran: I hurried to you, my Lord, so that You will be pleased. 20:84

O Allah, make us among those that You are pleased with, and grant us the blessings of Hajj and Umra many times over. Aameen.

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